Lucknow, September 11
Following the communal flare up in Azamgarh on Sunday last killing one and injuring three others, the state government today suspended DIG Abhimanyu Tripathi, and SP Vijay Garg.
Jointly addressing a press conference, DGP Vikram Singh and principal secretary, home, Kunwar Fateh Bahadur Singh said an enquiry conducted by IG, Varanasi zone, Praveen Singh had found these two officers guilty of gross negligence of duty and showing lack of mature leadership in dealing with the situation arising of the visit of BJP MP Yogi Adityanath to the district.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Mayawati had summarily transferred all officers of Azamgarh and Gorakhpur two days after the incident for failure to prevent the Sunday incident and the fallout that led to violence in several towns of eastern Uttar Pradesh on Sunday as well as Monday. The VHP had given a call for Poorvanchal bandh on Monday.
The DGP said in view of the BJP MP’s scheduled visit to Azamgarh both LIU (Local Intelligence unit) as well as the IG, Law and order, had both “alerted and sensitised” the district administration. “Additional police force was also offered to the district administration”, pointed out the police chief.
Charging the district administration with not taking cognisance of the warning, the DGP said rather than being on guard the DIG chose to remain away in Ballia during the visit. He also charged the SP of lack of judgement for allowing the MP’s cavalcade to pass through the crowded and tense Muslim dominated localities, where the incident occurred.
Reportedly, supporters of the MP shouted provocative slogans after which there was stone-pelting from the crowd and firing in which one shop attendant Matiullah was killed and three persons injured.
In response to a question, the DGP said no action was being taken against the then district magistrate Mayur Maheshwari right now as his role was still being investigated.
